Casting machine



C. A. NICHOLS CASTING MACHINE Sept. 5, 1933.

Filed Nov. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet l 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 CASTING MACHINESept. 5, 1933.

Sept. 5, 1933.

C. A. NICHOLS CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 p3933- c. A. NICHOLS 1,925,496

CASTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 14, 1929 p 1933- c. A. NICHOLS 1,925,496

CASTING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet '5 Filed Nov. 14, 1929 p 19330 I c. A.NICHOLS 1,925,496

CASTING MACHINE Sept 5, c. A. NICHOLS 1,925,496

CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 .SECT/O/V ma 10::

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p 1933- c. A. NICHOLS 1,925,496

CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Q 7 R b r v Q fi YPatented Sept. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES YPATTENT OFFICE CASTING MACHINEApplication November 14, 1929 Serial No. 407,151

10 Claim.

This invention relates to the art of making metal castings, and moreparticularly to the manufacture of castings from metal which has theproperty of expanding slightly just after it solidifies at the surfaceof the casting, the expansion of the casting taking place for a briefperiod prior to its contraction during cooling.

The present invention takes advantage of this property of certain metal,such as cast iron, by

providing a method and apparatus for making castings with the use ofpermanent molds and a permanent core locatable in the cavity between themold parts and capable of being withdrawn at the proper time beforecontraction of the casting begins after solidification. The apparatusembodying the present invention comprises chiefly a conveyor whichsupports a plurality of pairs of cooperating mold parts, each pair.providing a mold cavity into which a permanent core may project. Themachine is entirely automatic in operation. The conveyor moves at acertain rate of speed, and by the time each pair of mold parts has beenmoved to the pouring station, the parts will have been closed and thecore will have been located within the cavity. When the mold parts havebeen moved a certain distance from the pouring station the core will beautomatically withdrawn while the mold parts remain together. Afterfurther movement of the mold from the 39 pouring station, they will beopened in order to discharge the casting from the mold cavity. In I thedisclosed embodiment of the invention the cores and movable molds areactuated by fluid pressure means controlled by valves. The closing andopening of each pair of molds and the movement of the core is effectedby an individual fluid pressure operated device controlled by anindividual valve or set of valves, the valves being moved into differentpositions of control by stationary devices such as plate cams which arelocated along the line of travel of the conveyor and at definitedistances from the pouring station.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom' the following panying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment ofone form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a casting machine for carrying on themethod which forms a part of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view on a larger scale than Fig. 1, certainparts having been removed for the sake of clearness.

description, reference being had to the accom- (CI. 22-77) v Fig. 3 is afragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view partly on the line 40-41: of Fig.2 and partly on the line 4b4b of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows the molds closedand the permanent core in position and includes a diagrammatic showingof connections with valve mechanism for controlling a fluid pressuredevice which effects the opening and closing of the molds and themovements of the permanent core. The valve mechanism showndiagrammatically connected with the fluid pressure cylinder in Fig. 4are sectional views taken on the lines 4c4c and 4d4d of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the valve mechanism.

Fig. 5a is a sectional view on line -51: of Figure 6.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view and diagram similar to Fig. 4 showing themolds closed but the permanent cores withdrawn from the mold cavitiesand the corresponding positions of the valve mechanism which control thefluid pressure means.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 6 showing the molds separatedand the casting being ejected, and diagrammatically sectional views ofthe valve mechanism in position for controlling the fluid pressure meansso that the movable mold will be' separated from the relativelystationary molds.

Fig. 8 is a view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 and shows an end view of oneof the permanent cores.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section and includessectional views on the lines IOa-ltia, 10b-10b and l0c--10c of Fig.3,-as indicated by the brackets and indicia at the right of the figure.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view simflar to Fig. 10, showing the molds openand the cores withdrawn from the mold cavities.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of an under portion of themachine showing the individual pressure control valves and stationarycams for operating them in recurrent sequence.

' Fig. 13 is a view looking in the'direction of the arrow 13 of Fig. 12and shows a side elevation of one of the pedestals for supporting one ofthe valve controlling cams.,

Figs. 14 and 15, which are drawn with Fig. 4 on sheet 4, arerespectively front elevations of the movable and stationary permanentmolds.

Referring principally to Figs. 2 and 3, the machine comprises a pedestal20 providing ball bearings 21 and 22 within which a vertical shaft 23 1tending plates2 f8. The wall 26 is supported by an annular ball 'bearing29- in turn supported by the pedestal 20. The conveyor hub is rotatedintermittently at a certain speed by mechanism operating by a constantspeed motor (not shown) which drives ashaft 30 journalled in bearings 31and 32 provided by a gear housing 33 and driving a bevel gear 34 meshingwith a bevel gear 35 connected with a vertical shaft 36 journalled inbearings 37 and 38. The shaft 36 is connected at its upper end with adisc 39 carrying a roller 40 which, during a portion of each of itsorbital movements about the axis of the shaft 36 in a counterclockwisedirection, as

' viewed in Fig. 2, successively engages the plates 28 in order toeffect a certain number of degrees of angular movement of the conveyorhub 25 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. The degrees ofmovement will, of course, be the same as the angular spacing between thepairs of mold parts which will now be described.

The conveyor hub 25 is provided with an annular wall 41 to which screws42 attach a plurality of radially extending spokes 43 which support attheir outer ends a plurality of rim plates 44 having meeting flanges 45attached by screws 46 and base flanges 47 attached to the spokes 43 byscrews 48. Each rim plate 44 carries a relatively stationary mold 50shown in front elevation in Fig. 15. The mold 50 is provided withapertured cars 51 by which the mold is attached by tubular bolts 52 andnuts 53 to the rim plate 44 as shown more clearly in Fig. 11. The mold50 provides a plurality of mold cavities 55 each connected by branchpassages 56 with a gate 57. Each cavity 55 may receive an ejector rod 60attached to an ejector plate 61 which is guided for horizontal slidingmovement by bolts 62 threaded at 63 into the mold 50 and surrounded bysprings 64 which tend to urge the plate 61 away from the mold 50 untilit engages the heads 65 of the bolts 62. 4

The stationary mold 50 is cooled by air issuing from an elbow connectedwith a pipe 71 leading from the interior of the hub 25 which serves as achamber for distributing cooling ,air to the various stationary molds.Air for cooling the molds is conducted through a flue 72 attached to acollar 73 having a flange 74 which is journalled upon the centralannular flange 75 of a cover 76 attachedto the hub 25 by screws 77.

The relatively movable mold 80, the front elevation of which is shown inFig. 14, is provided with ears 81 having tap holes each receiving ascrew 82 which attaches the mold to a mold frame 83, having aperturedears 84 which receive the screws 82. The mold frame 83 is provided withcylindrical lugs 85 each provided with a bearing 86 which receives astationary guide. rod 87 extending from a cylindrical boss 88 integralwith a guide rod frame 89 having a platform 90 attached to spokes 43.The mold 80 is provided with lugs 91 each carrying a pilot pin 92 havinga rounded free end. The pin 92 is adapted to enter a suitable holeprovided in an apertured lug 93 integral with the mold 50 for thepurpose of properly aligning the molds when they are placed together.

The mold 80 supports rods 94 threaded into maaaee the mold 80 at 94a.The rods 94 support a core carrier 95 which is movable horizontallyalong the rods 94 and which is normally maintained in close proximity tothe back wall 83a of the mold frame 83 by springs 96 each encircling arod 94. The core carrier 95 is attached to pipes 97, each having athreaded portion 97a passing through a plane hole in the plate 95 andcooperating with nuts 98 by which the pipe 97 may be secured to theplate 95 in the desired position of adfiustment. At 99a each pipe 97threadedly engages a transverse bridge integral with a permanent core100 provided with radially arranged cooling fins 101 from which heat isdissipated rapidly since these fins are located in the direct path ofcurrents of compressed air issuing from the pipe 97. The movable mold isprovided with a plurality of openings 102 through which a core 100 ismovable into a mold cavity 55 or away from the mold cavity after thecasting has solidified.

The core carrier plate 95 is stiffened with ribs 103 radiating from acentral hub 104 which is centrally apertured to receive the reducedthreaded end 105 of a piston rod 106 provided with a flange 107 againstwhich the plate 95 is clamped by screws 108 threaded on the part 105.The rod 106 passes through a hole in the back wall 83a of the mold frame83, said hole being surrounded by annular bosses 109 and 110 engageablerespectively with the flange 107 and a flange 111 spaced from the flange107 at a distance greater than the horizontal distance between the outersurfaces of the bosses 109 and 110. In this way a lost motion connectionis provided between the core carrier 95 and the mold frame 83, for apurpose to be explained later. The flange or collar 111 is attached tothe rod 106.

The rod 106 passes through a stuffing box 120 in an end wall of acylinder 121 which receives a piston 122 attached to the rod 106. Thecylinder 121 is attached to a shelf 123 integral with the guide rodframe 89. The front end of the cylinder 121 provides a passage 124connected by pipe 125 threaded into a valve body supporting block 126and communicating with a passage 131 in a valve body 130. The rear endof the cylinder 121 is provided with a passage 127 connected by pipe 128threaded into the plate 126 and communicating with a passage 129 in thevalve body 130. Compressed air for moving the piston 122 is conductedfrom a suitable source of air under pressure by a pipe 132 threaded intothe plate 126 and leading into an air inlet 133 provided by the body130. The pipe 132 is connected with a manifold ring 134 in turnconnected by pipe 135, elbow 1 36 and pipe 137 and T 138 with a swiveljoint 139 providing a connection with a stationary pipe 140 located inalignment with the axis of shaft 123. The T 138 is connected also byelbow 141, pipe 142, L 143, pipe 144, with an annular air manifold 145.Air for cooling each set, of permanent cores is conducted from manifold145 through coupling 146, bushing 147, flexible hose 148, Y-pipe 149 andbranch pipes 150 and elbows 150a connecting these branch pipes with thepipes 97.

The admission oLair from the passage 133 to either of the passages 129or 131 leading to the air cylinder 121 and the connection of the aircylinder with a vent passage 151 is controlled by valves which will nowbe described with reference to Fig. 4.

Referring to section 4c-4c of Fig. 5 shown with Fig. 4, vertically belowthe passage 131 in the body 130 is a valve 152 for closing a port 153leading from a passage 154 into a passage 155 connected by passage 156with a chamber 157 communicating with passage 133. Valve 152 is normallyheld closed by a spring 158 encircling the stem 159 of valve 152.Vertically below pas-- sage 151 is a valve 161 adapted to close a port160 which connects the passage 151 with the passage 154. The valve 161is normally closed by a spring 162 encircling the valve stem 163.Referring to section 4d-4d, vertically below the passage 133 there islocated a valve 165 normally closing a port 166 which connects a chamber167 with a chamber 168, the latter leading into the passage 129. Thechamber 167 is connected by a side passage 170 with the passage 151shown in section 4c-4c. The valve 165 is normally maintained closed by aspring 171 encircling the stem 172 of the valve. Vertically below thepassage 129 is located a valve 175 normally closing a port 176connecting passage 168 with a passage 177 also connected by passage 156with passage Valve 175 is normally closed by spring 178 surroundingvalve stem 179.

The valve stems 158 and 163 are engageable with the arms of anintermediate lever 180 pivoted on pin 181 carried by a bracket 182 whichprovides a pin 183 pivotally supporting an operating arm 184 carrying aroller 185. Motion is transmitted from the lever 184 to the lever 180 byeither of two pins 186 each adapted to be received by a notch 187provided by the intermediate lever 180. When the lever 184 has beenmoved into position for lifting the valve 161, it will be yieldinglyheld in that position due to the fact that while the spring 162 tends topress the lever 180 in a clockwise direction, lever 184 is preventedfrom moving clockwise due to the locking action between the right handpin 186 and the notch of the lever 180 which receives it.

The valve stems 172 and 179 are engageable with the arms of anintermediate lever 190 also pivoted on pin 181 carried by bracket 182and actuated by a lever 194 carrying a roller 195. Motion is transmittedfrom the lever 194 to the lever 190 through either of pins 196, eachadapted to be received by a notch 197 provided by the lever 190. When itis desired to lift the valve 175, the lever 194 is moved in acounter-clockwise direction into the position shown in Fig. 4, thismovement being continued at least far enough for the right hand pin 196to be received by the right hand notch 197 of the lever 190. When lever194 has been moved into this position it will be yieldingly maintainedtherein due to the lockfrom the mold 50 as shown in Fig. 7, the valvelevers 184 and 194 being down, before the molds arrive at the pouringstation they must be closed and. permanent cores located within the moldcavities. Therefore, the arms 184 and 194 of each individual set ofcontrol valves are moved fromthe down position shown in Fig. 7 into theup position shown in Fig. 4, thereby causing the air intake passage 133to be connected with the rear end of the cylinder 121 through thefollowing passages mentioned in order with reference to Fig. 4: passage157. passage 156, passage 177, port 176, chamber 168,. passage 129, pipe128, passage 127. At the same time the front end of the cylinder isvented through the following passages: passages 124, pipe 125, passage131, passage 154, port 160, passage 151 which is connected withatmosphere through a screen 151a. These connections having beenestablished, the piston 122 is caused to move from the position shown inFig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 4. As the core carrier plate 95 movestoward the right to move the cores 100 into the cavities 155 ofstationary mold 50, the springs 96 tend to move the mold toward the mold50. The springs will be compressed while the lost motion is being takenup between the flange 111 of rod 106 and the adjacent boss 110 of theback wall 83a of the mold frame 83. When this lost motion has been takenup, the frame 83 will be moved positively toward the right by the rod106 in order to move the mold 80 against the mold 50, as shownin Fig. 4.The molds being closed and the cores having been located within the moldcavities, the molds are ready to receive the molten metal which ispoured in through the gate 57. The compressed air which issues from thepipes 97 materially assists in cooling the cores 100 so that the castingwill be quickly solidified at its surfaces which are in contact with thecores.

After the castings have solidified around the cores and before thecastings begin to contract, the cores are withdrawn from the moldcavities while the mold 80 remains in engagement with the mold 50 asshown in Fig. 6. This is accomplished by connecting both ends of thecylinder 121 with the vent passage 151 and the control of theseconnections is effected by allowing the valve lever 184 to remain in theposition it occupied before as shown in Fig. 4 while the lever 194 ismoved downwardly as shown in Fig. 6. The rear end cylinder passage 127will be connected with the vent passage 151 through the following pipesand passages: 128, passage 129, chamber 168, port 166, chamber 167,passage 170. Since both ends of the cylinder are vented and neither endreceives air under compression, the springs 96 will be permitted toexpand to normal condition thereby causing the core carrier plate 95 tomove toward the left with respect to the mold 80. This effects thewithdrawal of the cores 100 and movement of the piston 122 toward theleft into the position shown in Fig. 6. As the piston 122 moves towardthe left, air will be drawn into the front end. of the cylinder whilebeing expelled from the rear end. By the time the springs 96 will haveexpanded to normal condition the flange 107 will have engaged the boss109 on the inside of the back wall 83a of the mold frame 83. No furthermovement of the cores and piston will take place.

In order that the molds may be separated for removal of the castings andthe cleaning and resooting of the molds, compressed air must beintroduced into the front end of the cylinder 121. This is effected whenthe lever 184 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shownin Fig. 7, the lever 194 remaining down. Air will flow from the inlet133 to the front end of the cylinder 121 through the following passages:157, 156, 155, 153, 154, 131, 125, 124. This will cause the piston 122to move toward the left carrying with it the core carrier plate 95 andthe mold frame 83 and thus separating mold 80 from mold 50 as shown inFig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 11 the castings 200 are ejected by a fluidpressure device which, as

shown in Fig. 11, comprises a cy1inder-201 en-- to cause it to move fromthe position shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 10 to the position shown in Figs. 7and 11 in order to loosen the castings from. the mold 50.

Referring to Fig. 1, the arrow A indicates the station where the openmolds are cleaned by compressed air preparatory to sooting at thestation indicated by the arrow B where the molds pass on opposite sidesof a sooting flame nozzle 205. Arrow C indicates the station where metalis poured from a ladle 206 into the gate 57 provided by the closed molds50 and 80. Arrow D indicates approximately the station where thepermanent cores are withdrawn, it being understood that the exactlocation of this point in the movement of the conveyor depends on thesize and shape of the casting and the metal used to make the casting.Obviously, station D must be somewhere between station C and the stationindicated by arrow E where the molds are opened and the castings areejected.

As the conveyor rotates intermittently in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 1, or from right to left as viewed in Fig. 12, each pairof valve controlling levers 184, 194 which controls the actuation bypressure fluid means of each pair of molds is caused to move past camplates 210, 211 and 212 which are located respectively near the stationsC, D and E, these plates being supported respectively by pedestals 213,214 and 215. Before arriving at station C the rollers 185 and 195 oflevers 184 and 194 respectively will be engaged by the plate 210 andwill be moved from lower position to upper position as shown for thepurpose of closing the molds and locating the permanent cores within themold cavities as previously described. Before arriving at station Dwhere cores are to be withdrawn, the roller 195 only is engaged by theplate 211 in order to cause the lever 194 to be moved down while thelever 184 remains up as shown in Fig. 6. Roller 195 is made longer thanroller 185 so that it may engage the plate 211 which is located at adistance from the pedestal 20 sufficient to clear the roller 185. Beforearriving at station E where the molds are opened, the roller 185 whichhas remained up after arriving at station C is engaged by the plate 212in order to move it down so that the control valves will be located asshown in Fig. 7 for the purpose of admitting air into the front end ofthe cylinder 121 in order to open the molds.

In order to adjust the timing of the valve, each of the plates 210, 211and 212 is horizontally adjustable on its respective pedestal. Forexample, plate 211 is provided with a horizontal slot 216 through whichextend the screws 217 which pass through plane holes in a horizontalangle bar 218 integral with pedestal 214. When the nuts 219 threaded onscrews 217 are loosened the plate 211 may be moved horizontally into thedesired position of adjustment where it is secured to angle bar 218 bytightening the screws 219. As stated before, the amount of time whichshould elapse between the filling of the mold and the withdrawing of thecores depends upon the time required for chilling that portion of thecasting adjacent the core sufficiently to solidify it. As this time isvariable depending on the size of the casting and the material used itis necessary to vary the time required to pass between stations C and D,or more particularly the time which elapses between the filling of themolds and the instant that the lever 194 is moved downwardly. This timecan be varied by varying the speed of the motor which drives the powershaft 30 and also by changing the angular location of the plate 211 withrespect to the conveyor.

Referring to Fig. 1, the conveyor carries a num ber of equidistant brakeshoes 220 having the same angular spacing as the blocks 28 by which theturn table is moved intermittently by the rotating roller 40 shown inFig. 2. At about the end of each intermittent movement of the conveyor,one of these shoes 220 is engaged by a brake plate 221 carried by theframe 222 and urged upwardly by spring 223. This brake mechanism isdescribed and explained in my copending joint application with A. W.Phelps, Serial No; 392,905 filed Sept. 16, 1929.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable moldsproviding a cavity, a movable frame supporting one of the molds, apermanent core locatable within the cavity, a core carrier, means formoving the core carrier toward and away from the relatively stationarymold, and means including a lost motion connection for transmittingmovement from the core carrier to the mold frame, whereby the core maybe withdrawn from the casting before the molds are separated.

2. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable moldsproviding a cavity, a movable frame supporting one of the molds, apermanent core locatable Within the cavity, a core carrier, a rod formoving the core carrier, said rod passing through an opening in the moldframe and provided with spaced stops engageable with the mold frame andproviding a lost motion con nection with the mold frame whereby the coremay be withdrawn from the casting before the molds are separated, andmeans for operating the rod.

3. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable moldsproviding a cavity, a movable frame supporting one of the molds, apermanent core locatable within the cavity, a core carrier, a rod formoving the core carrier, said rod passing through an opening in the moldframe and provided with spaced stops engageable with the mold frame andproviding a lost motion connection with the mold frame whereby the coremay be withdrawn from the casting before the molds are separated, aspring for transmitting movement from the core carrier to the mold framein a direction to move the movable mold against the relativelystationary mold, and fluid pressure means for operating the rod andincluding a cylinder and cooperating piston connected with the rod.

4. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of pairs ofseparable molds each pair providing a cavity, permanent cores eachlocatable within a cavity, a conveyor carrying the molds and cores,means for moving the conveyor at a definite speed, and means responsiveto movement of the conveyor for causing the mold parts of each pair tocome together and the core to be inserted in the mold cavity beforearrival at the pouring station, for causing the core to be withdrawnafter a certain movement from the pouring station while the mold partsremain together and then for causing the mold parts to be separatedafter further movement thereof from the pouring station.

5. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of pairs ofseparable molds each pair providing a cavity, permanent cores eachlocatable within a cavity, a conveyor carrying the molds and cores,means for moving the conveyor at a definite speed, individual fluidpressure means for effecting movements of the core and the closing andopening of the mold parts of each pair, individual valves for each fluidpressure means of each pair of mold pairs and associated core, andrelatively stationary camming devices located at certain distances fromthe pouring station for actuating the valves in a manner such that themold parts of each pair will come together and the core will be insertedin the mold cavity before arrival at the pouring station, that the corewill be withdrawn after a certain movement from the pouring stationwhile the mold parts remain together, and that the mold parts will beseparated after further movement thereof from the pouring station.

6. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, a plurality of pairs ofseparable molds each pair providing a cavity, permanent cores eachlocatable within a cavity, a conveyor carrying the molds and cores,means for moving the conveyor at a definite speed, a fluid pressurecylinder and cooperating piston associated with each pair of molds andcore, means directly connecting the core with the piston, a lost motionconnection between the core and one of the bold parts so as to permitwithdrawal of the core from the mold cavity without moving the movablemold away from the relatively stationary mold, compression springstransmitting motion from the piston to the movable mold in a directionto close the molds, valves for controlling the admission of pressurefiuid to the ends of the cylinder and the venting thereof, andstationary cams located at certain distances from the pouring stationand adapted to actuate the valves in a manner such that the pressurepiston will push the core into the mold cavity and that the molds willbe closed through pressure transmitted by said springs before the moldsarrive at the pouring station, that after moving a certain distance fromthe pouring station both ends of the cylinder will be vented so as topermit the springs to expand and withdraw the core from the cavity, andthat after moving a certain further distance from the pouring stationthe piston will be actuated in the opposite direction by fluid pressurein order to open the molds.

7. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable moldsproviding a cavity, one mold being movable relative to the other andhaving an opening leading into the cavity provided by the other mold, apermanent core movable through said opening, a frame supporting themovable mold, a guide for the frame, a core carrier supported by theframe, springs for transmitting motion from the core carrier to themovable mold in a direction to close the molds, lost motion connectionbetween the core carrier and frame permitting movement of the core awayfrom the cavity without separating the molds, and means operable to pushthe core carrier toward the stationary mold in order to introduce thecore within the mold cavity and to cause the movable mold to engage thestationary mold with spring pressure, .to partially retract the corecarrier while the mold remains cold, and to fully retract the corecarrier, taking up the lost motion and separating the molds.

8. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable moldsproviding a plurality of mold cavities, one mold being movable relativeto the other and having openings leading into the cavities, permanentcores movable through the openings, a core carrier plate, rods eachconnecting the plate with a core, means attached to the movable mold forsupporting the core carrier plate, springs transmitting motion from theplate to the movable mold in a direction to close the mold, a lostmotion connection between the plate andmovable mold to permit partiallywithdrawing the cores while the molds are together but providing forseparation of the molds by further movement of the core carrier plateaway from the mold cavities, and means of actuating the plate.

9. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable moldsproviding a cavity, a permanent core locatable within the cavity, meansfor closing and opening the molds, and means for supporting andwithdrawing the core from the cavity while the molds remain closed, saidlast-mentioned means comprising a core plate mounted on and movable withrespect to the movable one of the molds, means for moving said plate,and a pipe connected to said plate and said core and adapted to conducta jet of air against said core.

10. Casting apparatus comprising, in combination, separable moldsproviding a cavity, a permanent core locatable within the cavity, meansfor closing and opening the molds, and means for supporting andautomatically withdrawing the core from the cavity a predetermined timeafter pouring and whilethe molds remain closed, said last-mentionedmeans comprising a core plate mounted on and movable with respect to themovable one of the molds, means for moving said plate, and a pipeconnected to said plate and said core and adapted to conduct a jet ofair against said core.

CHARLES A. NICHOLS.

